Top 100 Most Disruptive Companies in the World in 2017

The world of technology is changing at super speed from biotech to artificial intelligence to computing and beyond. Of course, labs are still filled with awe-inspiring innovations that haven’t made it to consumers yet. Some of these include lab-grown meat, 2D microprocessors, and 3D printing robots that can print full buildings in a day.

But there are an elite few entrepreneurs who have brought to life startups that are poised to change the planet. Without further adieu, here are the top 100 most disruptive companies in the world in 2017:

What makes Tesla disruptive? Like basically everything Elon Musk does, it takes things further than any other company that may dabble in the same ideas. With Tesla, it’s electric cars that can go for ages and also have a luxury appeal.

Although some people, like this writer at the MIT Technology review, claim that Tesla is not disruptive due to their high-end nature, this company of Musk’s has certainly made waves in public attention surrounding electric automotive technology.

NVIDIA has been making serious strides in the artificial intelligence industry, especially with Xavier which was displayed at CES 2017. Xavier is NVIDIA’s AI car supercomputer that can learn to drive by watching a human driver.

Using complex deep learning techniques, the car can adapt to an ever-changing environment that includes weather and road conditions. They made this announcement alongside Audi who is promising this level of self-driving vehicle automation by 2020. Xavier will be available in late 2017.

Using a bracelet that houses a tiny projector, eyeHand transforms users’ own hands into smart screens that can replace traditional touchscreens for devices such as mobile phones. The bracelet transforms users’ hands and fingers into a touchscreen, 3D mouse, and controller. They produce these devices which can then be purchased by others to sell as their own.

Soon, we may not be carrying our phones at all, but instead have them projected onto our bodies at any time.

Third Space Auto is the creator of Glas.ai which uses machine learning, car sensor data, and mobile phone information to learn about drivers. Because it harnesses the power of conversational intelligence, Glas.ai is able to actively interact with drivers and passengers.

The system even uses biometric identification to understand the context of who is in the car which allows voice commands from the driver to take precedence.

Sekg uses biometrics and player feedback to give insight to game developers. A common complaint in the gaming world is that game developers don’t pay attention to what the gaming community wants. When you take into consideration that a major source of those complaints, Call of Duty, had already topped $10 billion in 2014, the potential for Sekg to make a huge impact in a growing industry is apparent.

Their platform is currently open to both gamers and developers. I’ve submitted my application to become a tester and am currently waiting to hear back from them. If I get accepted, I will be sure to offer updates!

Wyre is solving slow wire transfers. Freelancers and international businesses everywhere rejoice! No more waiting several days, a week, sometimes two to receive money from overseas thanks to Wyre’s methods that move cash in only a few hours. Right now, they are operating in Brazil, Mexico, China, and the US, but we can expect to see them go fully global soon. Plus, their fees are much lower than traditional banking solutions.

Helix works with personal genomics. Using a small sample of a user’s DNA, Helix can offer insight for their future. They obtain the sample non-intrusively using saliva, and the feedback they can offer is vast.

Emotions drive people–every good marketer knows and plays on that. Beyond Verbal is taking emotional understanding to a whole new level of actionable data. Their software analyzes human vocal patterns in real time, making apparent their underlying feelings.

Using this data, companies in everything from branding to consumer health can have non-intrusive, constant,real-time feedback into their customers emotions which helps them make deeper connections and better decisions.

CryptoMove thwarts attempts by even the most sophisticated hackers. Their namesake explains their process; they encrypt, mutate, fragment, move, and re-encrypt data on a constant basis, creating a moving target that is nearly impossible to hit for unsavory characters who would otherwise cause a data breach on stationary information.

The dynamic nature of this company and their protections against such a wide variety of threats is what has earned them the trust of the Department of Homeland Security for some of their most challenging security issues.

Trillium Incorporated was named by Forbes JAPAN as the ‘RISING STAR' STARTUP OF THE YEAR 2017. Trillium Incorporated is protecting some our most precious cargo by offering automotive cybersecurity solutions for IoT vehicle components. Using an agnostic approach that is software-based, Trillium Incorporated helps protect autonomous from malicious threats without serving any particular company–only user safety.

Cartesion Co. is the creator of the Argentum–the world’s first desktop electronics printer. The Argentum can print on a variety of substrates, can print rigid and flexible items, and can even print on a cardstock substrate which they sell on their site. Right now, the printers are sold out. They have remained in constant demand. This is a perfect solution for electronics aficionados who need parts quickly to complete their projects and prototypes.

Made in Space deals in space-based manufacturing for research, industry, and defense. They harness the unique properties of space such as “persistent microgravity” to open novel manufacturing processes for these industries.

Among their achievements for which they are most well known is their additive manufacturing facility on the ISS. They own the 3D printing type equipment which NASA and other partners use as a service while in space.

Biobots is a company that combines 3D printing and biology. Their 3D bioprinters can print living tissue using bioinks. CNN claimed that BioBots is helping to shape the future of personalized medicine. Not only do they provide bioprinters, they also offer the wetware material from which users can print. Soon, they also intend to offer software to support bioprinting designs. BioBots printers are already in use in many universities across the US and Canada.

Tokken provides a payment solution for an herb that’s definitely making an impact in the US–cannabis. Because there are still a lot of rules and regulations that are consistently evolving as the US begins to legalize marijuana, many payment systems will not support the sale of the herb.

Tokken, however, stays up to date with compliance regulations in the industry while also preventing money laundering. The mobile banking solution connects with users bank and credit cards to make and receive payments, and also harnesses the “indelible ledger” technology that is so widely touted among blockchain fintech companies.

Atomwise promotes quick and efficient drug discovery using artificial intelligence. They are the creators of AtomNet which uses deep learning technology to discover new, small molecules accurately and quickly.

The company has already discovered a previously unused antiviral solution that fought Ebola from various strains. They have also found a potential drug to treat Multiple Sclerosis that has shown high efficacy in animal studies.

MapD is “the world’s fastest SQL database and visual analytics platform.” In a world where data rules, the speed and scalability offered by MapD Technologies is a relevant solution for companies that deal with huge amounts of real-time data. They use GPUs which not only makes for quick processing, but also an option for beautiful visual data representations.

Users can test the speed and beauty of MapD on the company’s website using a Tweetmap, NYC taxi rides, or shipping routes.

The company has received praise from such major data players as Gartner, Verizon, and NVIDIA.

Sqream Technologies is another GPU-based business intelligence company, and is the founder of the SQream database. The SQream DB “is an analytic database designed to handle tens to hundreds of terabytes of data and beyond, with ease.” They offer up to 2TB per hour per GPU. Obviously, in our data soaked world, this is a huge benefit for those companies who deal in massive amounts of data. They are cutting costs for many and even speeding up cancer research according to Prof. Gideon Rechavi, Head of Sheeba Medical Center, Cancer Research Center.

Chain of Things is one of those companies that has appeared over and over on Disruptor Daily. They are researching novel methods of using blockchain alongside IoT to solve real-world issues such as the scalability and security of IoT devices.

Beyond securing the IoT, which has in recent users become a major cyber threat, they are also seeing use in the technologies for proof of solar power generation to create automatically-delivered incentives for those people and companies who are doing their part to save our environment.

On top of those, Chain of Things is also looking into blockchain as a solution for the shipping and logistics industries.

Blockchain is showing significant promise for a wide variety of use cases and Chain of Things’ research is involved in several of them.

Elliptic is bringing an added layer of security to blockchain and bitcoin. Many users have fears that cryptocurrencies can facilitate illegal activities due to its anonymous nature as it has sometimes in the past. Elliptic has created a solution to identify illicit activity on the Bitcoin network to “provide actionable intelligence to financial institutions and law enforcement agencies.”

This added layer of intelligence may help general public acceptance of cryptocurrency which is already gaining tractions with governments worldwide.

Benevolent AI uses artificial intelligence to boost scientific discovery. Benevolent AI arose out of a biotech company and BenevolentBio uses AI technology to increase the efficiency of drug discovery and other purposes to benefit human health. But Benevelont AI deals in more than just the pharmaceutical industry. BenevolentTech helps scientists and researchers access and use their data with the addition of artificial intelligence.

Chatterbox Labs is making artificial intelligence available to more people by making the process of creating AI, machine learning, and deep learning products quick and accessible to even those without in-house data scientists. They do this using their own Cognitive Engine which address multiple industries, languages, and solutions all at once. The entire process from deploying the Cognitive Engine to a production ready product is only two days.

Echobox is the meeting point of artificial intelligence and social media publishing. They are the creator of “Larry,” an AI personal assistant that that assists with content curation and audience growth on Facebook and Twitter.

With social media being such a high-impact form of web presence for modern brands, artificial intelligence can be a great help for marketers who need to generate high ROI for their most valuable clients.

The artificial intelligence analyzes both historical and real-time data to create a constantly evolving social media strategy.

Desktop Genetics

In their own words, this is what Desktop Genetics does:

“Desktop Genetics is a bioinformatics company specializing in CRISPR sgRNA design for cell line engineering, drug discovery and clinical cell therapies. Now almost five years old, Desktop Genetics applies market-leading machine learning approaches to genome engineering projects for researchers all over the world.”

TEXSMART is the creator of a smart textile that uses thread which can transmit data, heat, and power on fabric. They work with companies to create smart wearables such as clothing that can regulate temperature and headphones that can never tangle because the “wires” are actually pieces of smart fabric.

AxonVR is a major player in full-immersion virtual reality. Using HaptX fabric, AxonVR has created the HaptX Skeleton exoskeleton which can simulate bodily sensations in the real world as users experience them in virtual reality.

It can generate heating and cooling as well as impact and weight. The company claims that the microfluidic actuators in this exosuit are so precise that they can simulate a brush of a butterfly’s wings or a punch.

Equinox Innovative Systems creates “ultra-high bandwidth tethered drone solutions.” Their technologies are currently patent pending and circumvent the traditional barriers of bandwidth and drone elevation. They specialize in drone solutions including “automated takeoff and landing, stationary and mobile auto-pilot, station-keeping, variable offset, and telemetry systems” as well as cybersecurity and engineering. They have tailored themselves for military, inspection, and cellphone solutions.

In terms of mobile phone solutions, their tethering technology can provide a drone with the same amount of bandwidth as a cell tower and can be deployed in only forty seconds.

Deep Genomics is combining machine learning and genomic technology. They are creating the technology to determine the reaction of cells to altered DNA using software which can then be used to create diagnostic techniques as well as new therapies in a simulated environment before putting forth the resources to take the experiment into a real life lab setting.

Lendy is changing the way real estate lending functions in the UK. Rather than rely on limited credit scores and banking algorithms, Lendy’s platform lets users crowdfund property loans. Although they are currently only available in the UK, this form of peer-to-peer lending is making waves in the financial technology sector, quickly removing the middleman in financial decisions and placing power (and cash!) back into the hands of the people.

They have nearly 16,000 users, and at the time of this writing, investors had earned £22,034,923.

The Aeternity blockchain network is solving the scalability issues that arise with traditional blockchain networks. They are looking well beyond financial applications and into the many other novel uses of blockchain including video games, Internet of Things, and more. They claim to support the “relentless evolution of systems and societies.”

Their most widely touted technologies include state channels, decentralized oracles, consensus, and unique governance. Aeternity may prove to be a much faster and more cost effective solution in Blockchain 2.0.

DFINITY’s mission is to build an infinite decentralized cloud. DFINITY will support the global sharing economy while helping businesses create more efficient and cost effective IT processes by extending and complementing the Ethereum network, offering extreme performance thanks to new protocols and cryptography, and governance by AI across the “Blockchain Nervous System.” Their technology assists with interoperability where because companies will no longer need to build private compute clouds and isolated systems.

Blockphase is “building the world's first decentralized blockchain-based digital content distribution and management platform for virtual reality and 360 video creators.” By using blockchain technology, artists gain far more control over their work than using traditional methods.

Artists are able to set content usage rights, create custom loyalty programs, remove the middleman, and earn immediate and automatic payment for watched content. Blockchain can, in this way, revolutionize the way of the artist just as it has already revolutionized the rest of the financial world.

Flowchain is “distributed ledger for the Internet of Things.” Flowchain has created a software that harnesses blockchain technology that works for P2P IoT devices that need to communicate in real-time. The project is currently open source and based on Node.js. Interested users can download the whitepaper for the “blockchain of things” tech from Flowchain’s website here.

Thyn creates a non-invasive neurostimulation device to help users relax. They offer a subscription service that provides the Thync device, electrostim pads, and access to the application to help users unwind or sleep depending on user preference.

Right now, users can get a 6-month subscription for $29 per month.

The device has been tested over five years in more than 5k test sessions, and has made appearances on publications such as CNN and Mashable.

GBAtteries is solving an issue that many of us encounter several times a week–dead batteries. Whether a laptop, phone, or other device, GBatteries’ solution allows for charging in minutes instead of the hours required for traditional batteries. GBatteries uses something called ActiveBMS that is made specifically for li-ion batteries, one of the most commonly used for consumer electronics.

Their tech stifles degradation of batteries and still allows for charging that is up to six times faster than traditional methods using bursts of energy throughout the charging process.

SpaceX has been a major source of news in recent times, just as the CEO Elon Musk has due to his part in other disruptive companies such as Tesla and Neuralink. SpaceX can lay claim to the first reflight of an orbital class rocket.

This sort of reusable technology is a game changed in the space industry right now, and reusable equipment and launchers are opening new efficiencies that make space cheaper and available to a wider segment of the population. Musk has lofty goals with SpaceX such as taking humanity to Mars and securing a backup planet for our species. Next, we will cover his grand goals with his newest company, Neuralink, as well.

Another brainchild of Elon Musk, Neuralink is out to save humanity from the possibility of AI becoming the “other.” For a full write-up on the announcement of Neuralink, view our news post here.

In short, Neuralink plans to use brain implants to facilitate “uncompressed” communication of ideas between humans–a sort of technological telepathy–that doesn’t require the use of language. Musk proposes that this technology machine implant will also help human-AI interaction which will keep humanity relevant in an age when our AIs become much smarter than us.

23andMe is a genetic testing service that is available to the general public. Many US pharmacies stock the DNA testing kits which users purchase and send back to 23andMe by mail for testing.

Users provide saliva which 23andMe tests for genetic disease markers and ancestry lineage. The company even offers to connect people with relatives they didn’t even know they had who have also used the service! Plus, their prices are reasonably affordable and vary depending on the package and amount of information desired by the user.

Previously Deep6 Analytics, Deep6 AI uses artificial intelligence to assist in the patient-matching process for clinical trials. Not only do they assist with recruitment, but they also help lower costs, increase trial speed, and improve patient satisfaction and outcome. They use “math, unstructured data analytics, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence” to help researchers and doctors get better patients quicker for the most effective clinical trials.

Imagia is an artificial clinical intelligence platform to “detect and cancer changes early“ because this the earlier these changes are detected, the more that can be done, the better the outcome for the patient.

InsideDNA is a “computing platform for reproducible research in bioinformatics, genomics and life science.” They offer a research platform, a sharing service, and a tool publishing service with limitless storage and over 1000 open-source bioinformatics tools for analysis. They are for researchers and team leaders alike, and they are planning even more functionality including connections to key biodatabases and publication of user-generated tools and pipelines.

Neufund is bringing together blockchain and venture capital. Now, investors and startups can connect in a way that harness cryptocurrency to fund all sorts of technological disruption and innovation.

The company is still growing, but they hope to tap into previously unavailable resources, create funding channels that can grow at hyperspeed, and to become the “largest investment ecosystem on the blockchain.”

Twenty Billion Neurons, often abbreviated Twenty Bn, is using advanced machine learning systems that understand video and extract relevant data in real-time. Their AI system can be used to recognize human gestures and can even be relevant for security video monitoring.

Their goal is to create AIs that understand and perceive the world like humans using the same sorts of common sense and analysis as we do. They have videos of many common situations to use for basic training of their deep-learning systems, and that foundational knowledge is then tweaked on a case-by-case basis.

Biomiic is using artificial intelligence and genomics and a view of the human body as a microbiome to reduce time and cost in the sample-to-data supply chain. They can offer highly detailed info about any bacteria or virus using high-tech AI and data driven biomarker identification technology.

Neurala is creating “brains for bots” that are based on biological animal brains. Their AI brains are then used for drones and other robots as well as toys and other devices. The claim to fame of their brains is the sheer intelligence they can display along with fast and agile training that allows for the addition of new knowledge on the fly.

Their brains can inspect, avoid, follow, navigate unknown terrain, identify and track objects, and learn to recognize and react to new objects in real-time. Their brains are used by major players such as NASA and NVIDIA.

Osso VR is creating virtual reality tools for healthcare professionals. Surgeons can use Osso VR tools to perform simulated surgeries so that they can practice on digital bodies instead of real ones. They offer full immersion into the surgical theatre so surgeons can use their hands to complete surgeries in just the same way they would on a real patient.

Although their offerings are currently geared toward orthopedic surgeons, they have intentions to expand into other realms of surgical procedures.

With Narrative Science, there is no need to interpret massive amounts of data in highly-technical, numerical form. Instead, users can access actionable insights about their data using Narrative Science’s advanced natural language generation. Alongside Quill, these advanced NLG principles can turn data into an “Advanced Narrative” that not only explains what the data is, but why it’s important in real, human-understandable language. This can turn highly relevant data into something understandable, thus actionable.

rMark Bio is breaking down the walls that many researchers face by helping them be found by their research rather than their reputation. Their platform, CoRE KOL™, can connect those companies with research needs to researchers who can provide them the information they need in real-time. They offer insights based on need, preferences, and goals. The platform supports both academic and clinical researchers.

Muse uses biofeedback and brain-sensing technology in an all-inclusive wireless headband to help guide users through meditation. It helps users b boosting focus and unintrusively helping users get back on track by offering audio cues that blend with their chosen soundscape when their mind begins to wander. They system also offers a reward and achievement system to help aid in motivation to keep a meditation routine. Muse also provides users with charts and graphs so users can track their data and progress.

Spacee creates “deviceless mixed reality” experiences. What that means is, without a phone or VR headset, Spacee adds an extra layer to reality that users can interact with in the real world. It doesn’t require an app, glasses, or any mobile device. Instead, they offer mixed reality projects that users can actually touch and feel, such as was the case with their Mercedes Benz Touch Car Experience®. You can see it in action in the video below:

DeepMind has made the news a lot in recent times, especially with their project AlphaGo, the AI that can play Go alongside champions. DeepMind is a world leader on the artificial intelligence front with a goal to consistently push the boundaries of what AI can do in order to solve real-world, large-scale problems that affect humanity as a whole such as climate change. DeepMind was acquired by Google in 2014 and, as such, is a member of the Alphabet Group.

Otonomos lets users incorporate companies online in a matter of minutes, and they take care of all of the offline paper. The barriers to entry for freelancers and entrepreneurs can be high when it comes to taxes, business insurance, and paperwork. Although the internet has opened many opportunities, some traditional business methods have not yet caught up.

Otonomos is changing that by helping users “setup and govern” companies around the world. They even offer a virtual boardroom. Right now, they support incorporation in the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Musio is an AI robot that can understand language and context. The bot can even express emotion using its eyes. The company is making strides in human-machine relationships while also helping users learn conversational English.

Cluster is set to release to the public on May 5, 2017. The company helps users meet in virtual reality. In an environment somewhat akin to Second Life, users can gather for meetings with up to 1000 participants. No longer do users have to worry about travel costs and safety, because their virtual avatar can represent them in virtual meetings with people from all over the world.

Ale is disrupting a holiday tradition–fireworks. Instead of the traditional firey fun, Ale has a high-tech solution that also helps science. Their satellites which orbit the Earth release pellets that burn up in the atmosphere that look like beautiful meteor showers. Beyond their festive beauty, they also help researchers understand meteors and the upper atmosphere.

Cowlar is wearable tech for our bovine friends. Farmers outfit their cows with collars that monitor their activities. With actionable data, farmers are able to tweak the lives of their dairy cows to make them happier. Happier cows, in turn, produce more milk.

Cowlar helps monitor stress levels, optimize feed, improve reproduction rates, detect diseases earlier to help cows and farmers get more out of life.

Genome compiler is an “all-in-one free software platform for biologists.” The company is also now part of Twist Bioscience.

What they provide is a solution that helps researchers to collaborate online and offline through a variety of common platforms such as Google Chrome. They offer tools to design, manage, and share primers, simulate cloning experiments, and more. They claim it’s “genetic engineering made easy.”

One of the best parts is that it’s completely free to use and easy to transition to for researchers.

Gingko Bioworks designs microbes for customers to help replace technology with biology. They can quickly engineer organisms at scale using hardware and software automation. Because biology is self-assembling and renewable, they believe it can be a solution for many of the problems we currently try to solve with non-organic technology. Gingko Bioworks offers rapid prototyping of custom organisms.

Century Link dropped a major news release this year about their newest offering–Big Data as a Service (BDaaS). In the age of everything-as-a-service under the rule and currency that is data, Century Link is opening an opportunity for smaller businesses who cannot afford an in-house data scientist to harness the power insights of big data for themselves. They provide storage, management, and processing on their own cloud infrastructure. They even offer litigation protection for the use of open-source Hadoop, a huge name in the big data industry.

Conversica helps both marketing and sales teams do their job to nurture leads and close deals. Using an artificial intelligence that can answer chats and emails in the same way that a human assistant can, Conversica can schedule meetings with leads, answer basic questions, and nurture them through the buyer’s journey.

When Conversica’s AI encounters an event that it can’t handle or when a customer is potentially ready to close a deal, the AI passes the lead to the correct human to finish the job.

In my own experience, I never knew I was talking to a Conversica bot until afterward, and the bot did the job to schedule a consultation.

Conversica’s bot may prove significantly more effective than a human assistant thanks to the number of times it has completed the tasks it is designed to do and its AI infrastructure that lets it continuously optimize itself to generate the best ROI.

OhmConnect helps users save money and the environment simultaneously. The company monitors energy usage on the grid, and sends a mobile alert to users when unsustainable energy generation has to kick in in order to provide enough power. If, during these times, users cut back on their power consumption for about half an hour to lower the need to use the unsustainable energy sources, OhmConnect pays them.

Users can earn an average of $100-300 per year. The service is not yet available everywhere, but the company makes it easy to search from their homepage to find out if it is available in a user’s area.

Cool Energy converts waste heat to clean energy using their product, the ThermoHeart Engine™. The product is an easy to maintain and efficient solution to generate up to 25 kilowatts of energy from industrial exhaust, stationary power generation, and more.

“In initial performance testing, a 300 Celsius temperature difference produced over 30% conversion efficiency.” This is substantially higher than other products on the market. Below is the President of Cool Energy with a more in-depth explanation.

Grownetics uses high-tech solutions for indoor plant growers with solutions specifically tailored to cannabis growers. The offer high-resolution 3D crop sensing, full facility automation, and 24/7/365 alerts to producers about their facilities. Through the combination of these technologies, micro-climate control is a real possibility on a plant-by-plant and automated basis.

Sharecare lets users explore the entire human body in virtual reality. This can be a great addition for healthcare professionals to provide a visual element to conversations to increase patient understanding and satisfaction. The platform, which they call YOU®, is capable of representing both healthy and diseased bodies which makes it perfect for use not only in healthcare settings, but also in educational settings.

Momentum Machines is bringing robotics to the food industry. Their robot can already build a hamburger with all of the toppings. And not just the assembly–the robot can grind the meat, cook it, and add condiments and veggies. Their team consists of roboticists from NASA, Tesla, Stanford, and Berkeley.

With a lot of hype already in the tech scene about robots and AIs taking over human jobs, companies like Momentum Machines are building the future of the food industry.

NanoRacks calls themselves the “operating system of space.” NanoRacks is helping researchers and companies harness space by helping them get their payloads to space–whether low-Earth orbit and the ISS or deep space. They are the first company to own and operate their own hardware on the space station and were the first commercial payload on SpaceX. It is their goal to take space beyond the governmental sector and put it into the hands of excited customers.

Otolith Sound can help treat migraines and motion sickness using a wearable headset that blocks out undesired sensory information from users’ vestibular systems. They hope to test their technology with other vestibular issues such as vertigo, because their system so far has shown a lot of promise due to its ability to stop the issue at the source rather than treat symptoms. This would make Otolith Sound the first device of its kind.

Project Nourished is bringing the culinary experience into the VR realm. By using sight, smell, and texture to fool the senses, Project Nourished can provide enticing dining experiences that are immersive and digital. Their unique system lets users interact with their plate of food in VR while hearing and smelling what they would in their virtual location.

Using substances that are often used in molecular gastronomy such as agar agar, users can place objects in their mouths to help simulate texture. In the future, addition of nutrients may make for satisfying, healthy, and sustainable alternatives to our current dining methods.

Transtutors is strengthening their pre-existing database of on-demand tutors with artificial intelligence. Their machine learning assistant can nudge students in the right direction to facilitate creative problem solving and self-direction.

The help it can provide covers a huge range of subjects from accounting to physics and much, 6much more.

DataTeach brings the power of big data to the education sector. They offer teachers data-driven feedback about their students so they can customize their methods and provide a better, more personalized experience for each student.

DataTeach analyzes classroom data including tests and assignments to gauge each student’s needs which it then turns into actionable data for teachers. The software is trusted by both Berkeley and Harvard.

Cervi Robotics offers rapid prototyping of robotics through the “power of the mind” which is the phrase that, in Latin, led to their namesake. Because they only trust top experts and leading universities globally, Cervi Robotics is able to create quick, intelligent solutions for customers. They can handle research and development for production of small or large quantities or robotics products.

Their team members are finalists in international and national robotics competitions, so customers can trust they are getting reliable, innovative robotics solutions from top-notch minds in the industry.

Apium deals is swarm technology which is among the most advanced drone technologies on the market. When drones act in a swarm, they communicate and interact with one another as a unit. Apium lets user fly an entire swarm as a single entity using a communication infrastructure that optimizes itself even when the swarm changes structure.

They focus on simple machines that work best when clustered together. They deal in mass charging and other concerns required for large swarms, but also tailor themselves for oceanographers who can use the massive, fluid swarms to target specific challenges required of drones used in the field.

Insure-a-Thing is a new method of insurance that we can only hope catches on at a grand scale. Insure-a-Thing currently only insures bicycles, but their method is what makes them disruptive. Users do not pay a monthly premium unless there is a claim. That does not necesarily mean that the user him or herself must have a claim.

Insure-a-Thing works on a peer-to-peer setup such that each user pays only as much as is needed every month. No claims from their peers means no payment. Their model is highly transparent so users always know what they are paying for and can rest assured that they’re not paying more than they need to be.

InFlight VR is making an impact in travel entertainment. No more dull 2D offerings nor stress over the plane environment, because InFlight VR is bringing virtual reality to the airline cabin. They offer users a variety of 3D films and 360 degree immersive experiences to choose from on their flights. Users with flight anxiety may find themselves calmed when they are immersed in an environment other than the airplane cabin. Plus, this opens an extra source of revenue for airlines in a way that also pleases customers. With InFlight VR, air travel will never be the same.

KeepEyeOnBall offers customers truly immersive virtual reality experiences in exquisite detail. Real estate especially benefits from the special perks of KeepEyeOnBall, because users can explore virtual properties which saves time and resources for all involved. Hospitality companies can also benefit from users ability to preview facilities.

KeepEyeOnBall is more than a tour of pre-existing places, which it also offers. The platform can also be used by those in the construction and architecture fields to give buyers and leads a sneak preview into properties before they are ever built.

Kompas offers users personalized travel suggestions tailored specifically to their interests. Rather than the large, obvious tourist traps, Kompas can take users into a city’s underground of secret hideaways, fun zones, and tasty treats. They claim it brings the “gems” to thr forefront, not the chains. It even takes into account budget and spare time when making suggestions toward food, urban exploration, and more.

Piligrim XXI also offers a new innovation for travelers as well as museums. They use augmented reality to take users back in time to see what their locations used to look like. Users can view professionally restored versions of major monuments such as the ruins of Greece or Rome. The application overlays the reconstructions onto the real world so users can get a peek into the past while fully experiencing the present moment. They are bringing history into the now in a way that users can truly experience first hand.

75F is more than a smart thermostat. 75F is a comfort system and an energy efficiency system that can save users up to 50% in energy costs. Rather than a reactive approach, 75F instead predicts hot and cold spots through real-time analysis and prevents them before they occur. The system can work with any current heating and cooling system, can be installed without disruption, and can lead to quick payouts for businesses as well as increased comfort and air quality for their employees.

Gooee is an “IoT lighting ecosystem.” Using their enterprise solutions, users experience lighting analytics and building intelligence that harnesses the processing power of the cloud in real-time. They use smart sensors, wireless mesh control, and an enterprise gateway to handle even the most complex lighting tasks. Gooee even integrates with iBeacon and Eddystone for beacon management to create truly smart lighting solutions.

AVEI is a company that we are expecting to become a future disruptor. Their concepts which are currently under development include pulse detonation turbines which are for “changing the foundational energy flow from a subsonic process to a supersonic one, increasing fuel efficiency by over 20%.”

Another project by AVEI in their own words:

“Our PDM engine with the ARN (annular rocket nozzle) concept is for a new horizontal take-off and landing reusable launch vehicle to put satellites and humans into orbit.”

Mars City, previously known as Mars Planet, is using virtual reality to help both peole and machines learn to live in a Mars environment. They use VR, sensors, harnesses, and multi-user treadmills to train man and machine for low-gravity environments so, when they land on Mars, they will already know how to react to the way movement functions.

This is a highly relevant company now that NASA has orders from Trump to get us to Mars by 2033.

Axiom Space claims to be the world’s first private commercial space station. In their own words, they intend to build “to build ISS's international, privately-owned successor.” Their services include space tourism, in-orbit research and manufacturing, research, and space exploration systems testing.

SkySafe keeps airspaces free and safe from rogue drones. They can usurp control over a rogue drone and land it–a great benefit for those who manage restricted areas. Not only can it help users take control of drones, it can also detect drones and warn users with a notification to offer unprecedented and uninterrupted airspace protection.

Shield AI uses artificial intelligence and robotics to protect military service members and civilians from threats. They supply robots and UAVs with world-sensing technology to offer an added layer of intelligence with machines that can help with exploration and, now, collaboration.

In this way, their systems help users make informed decisions that can save the lives of themselves and those around them. Their goal, in their own words, is to “reduce American and civilian casualties to 0 by 2030.”

Aero Glass provides pilots with augmented reality glasses that provide a HUD with complex data offerings so they can keep their focus on the controls. The glasses can allow pilots a 360 degree view of where they are, flight paths, airports, villages, terrain, and more. This gives pilot insight into their environments even when visibility is low.

MetaCell creates software for neuroscience. Their biggest accomplishment to date is a software package that lets users explore neuroanatomy, neuron connectivity, and gene expression in a Virtual Fly Brain. The simulation software includes a 3D viewer and ways to explore similar neurons. Beyond that, MetaCel also offers a way to visualize neuroscience data for use in collaboration and building to extract the most actionable insights possible.

Harvest.ai uses artificial intelligence to create a cybersecurity solution that understands changes in user behavior. Once it learns how users generally interact with data within a company, the AI can notice changes that may indicate a threat. What it does differently than other cybersecurity companies is that it learns which documents are most critical and protects those first and foremost. It offers alerts to insider threats before the data is touched, because it monitors anomalies in real-time.

Nervana uses deep learning to solve the most complex machine learning problems through extreme optimization. Nervana is the company behind Neon, which is free for anyone to use, and can offer powerful visual insights into the deep learning process. They are also the company behind Nervana Cloud which is “optimized down to the silicon” for speed; this is why they can claim the world’s fastest deep learning that has reached training speeds that are 10x faster than traditional GPU-based systems.

Intuition Robotics creates robots that understand how to interact with people. They use machine learning and vision, cloud robotics, conversational interfaces, and natural communication and HRI to create artificially intelligent robotic companions that can not only interact with but learn from people. The friendship these robots offer can help improve quality of life for users and create kind bonds between man and machine.

RoboTeam creates robots that are built to protect and serve. They create “tactical ground robotics systems” that are used by members of the military in 32 countries worldwide. They are the creators of such bots as the PROBOT and the MTGR. The MTGR is the lightest all-terrain tactical robot that can collect intelligence 24 hours a day in 360 degrees, and the PROBOT can carry three times its weight while still maintaining maneuverability.

Deep Information Sciences was formed with the intention of creating a new form of database to market which they called DeepSQL. What has now transformed into the Deep Foundation is offering is now going open source, offering years of research into machine learning technology in the context of databases for free. Their only concern is that people get use out of the information and tools which includes:

Clever Baby is a wearable for babies. It monitors heart rate and temperature, analyzes sleep, and offers developmental insights. The band is made of medical grade silicone so it is safe for baby and eases the mind of parents while giving actionable data towards their child’s health. The monitor even connects to a smartphone to send parents alerts as needed.

Biomindr is a non-invasive, low-power, no-contact solution to track biometric data such as hydration. They are solving the issues that come with most traditional wearable technology such as inaccuracy due to lighting, sweat, motion, and skin tone. Biomindr uses RF sensors that can measure multiple biological data points through only one, accurate sensor that never needs to touch a user’s skin and offers more accurate insight that other methods on the market.

Yseop uses artificial intelligence and natural language generation to create human-sounding data reports at superhuman speeds. This automated process can create narrative documents from data at rates of thousands of pages per second. This major IT innovation saves untold hours of manpower, allowing humans to focus on other work while still generating easily understood data documents.

Coakt does crowdfunding beyond simply money. With Coakt, users can raise funding, yes, but also talent, people, and assets to make a project come together. Another intriguing feature of Coakt is their tokenization system. This allows users to trade contributions into tokens which they can invest as they please within the platform.

Bitnation is a concept project that uses blockchain governance to create a virtual nation with its own embassies, diplomacy, law, security, insurance, and more. It uses blockchain tech to give every citizen a voice about how the nation should function. Interested users can sign up as individuals or even offer a safe haven for other users to stay. Everyone can enter Bitnation, and everyone can contribute to its initiatives.

Pycno offers agriculture sensors that help farmers measure, analyze, and take action on their crop data. Using a sensor system, farmers reduce wasted products such as water and pesticides because they can use their resources where they are needed most. The application that works alongside Pycno is constantly updated with new information so farmers can monitor their crops for the latest risks and diseases. The sensors are easy to install by farmers themselves and are all-inclusive. They run on solar power and can use the built-in SIM card in over 160 countries worldwide.

Medical Realities helps with surgeon training. Their platform uses virtual reality and 360 degree video to immerse trainees in the surgical theater to experience surgeries in an interactive way before ever laying hands on a living patient. Medical Realities covers major syllabus material and even allows surgical trainees to track their progress and test themselves.

Pavlok is the behavior training solution for humans with bad habits that is a little more jolting than Pavlov’s old experiments. Anytime a user wearing the Pavlok bracelet engages in a user-defined bad habit, Pavlok shocks them. As time passes, users form a negative association with the bad habit which trains them on a very biological level to no longer participate in that action.

Synbiota is the creator of DNA Tinker Studio that lets citizen scientists play with genes. They offer products for individuals and educators to play with DNA manipulation in fun and apparent ways, such as changing color expression to fun tones like purple, teal, and pink. They also offer basic DNA extraction kits. With Synbiota, learners can play with genes for a hands-on understanding of the code of life works and how it can be manipulated.

Do you know of any other disruptive companies that belong on this list? Do you have a favorite new technology? Let us know in the comments below!